21 Easter-Themed Movies to Put You In the Holiday Spirit
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Dying eggs and eating obscene quantities of chocolate are some of the best traditions to partake in during Easter Sunday, but snuggling up on the sofa to watch an Easter movie is just as fun. Whether you're looking to stream a lighthearted family film or you're leaning towards a dramatic feature that explores the religious side of the holiday, there are tons flicks that'll have every type of movie lover hopping for joy. Ahead, the best Easter movies to put you in the holiday spirit.
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Max von Sydow and Charlton Heston star in the lengthy epic that portrays the life of Jesus Christ from his birth in Bethlehem to his crucifixion and resurrection.
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Hop
This family-friendly film from the creators of Despicable Me blends animation and live actors to spin the tale of the Easter Bunny and his son, E.B., who travels to Hollywood in search of rock n' roll stardom. Colorful hijinks ensue as he befriends Fred (James Marsden) and the duo team up to save Easter.
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The Prince of Egypt
A grade school classic, this animated movie tells the story of the Book of Exodus in a very entertaining way. It follows Moses's life and depicts the first Passover, a holiday which regularly overlaps with Easter. Moses's deliverance of the Israelites out of slavery is oft considered a biblical foreshadowing that parallels the Jesus's death and resurrection, making this movie a great pick for Easter weekend. As a bonus, the soundtrack is great.
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Peter Rabbit
The troublesome rabbit from the lovely colored-picture books comes to the big screen as the irreverent Peter Rabbit (voiced by James Corden) who vies for the affection of his tender-hearted neighbor (Rose Byrne) against his infamous nemesis, Mr. McGregor (Domhall Gleeson).
More: How Peter Rabbit Was Brought to Life
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Miss Potter
Starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor, Miss Potter tells the true tale of Beatrix Potter, the creator behind Peter Rabbit. Potter struggles to find a publisher for her imaginative children's stories, while her parents pressure her to give up and settle down with a husband. But with a little persistence and someone who believes in Beatrix's vision, her luck soon changes.
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Hank and Mike
The hilarious comedy Hank and Mike follows two Easter bunnies who become unemployed after the holiday corporation makes cutbacks on Easter.
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Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a member of Jerusalem's Jewish nobility living at the time of Judea's Roman occupation. Set in the same time period, the film offers historical context for the life and crucifixion of Jesus.
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Here Comes Peter Cottontail
CBS created one of its classic claymation TV specials for Easter as beloved narrator Seymour Sassafras tells the tale of a young junior Easter bunny who has to save the holiday from the evil Irontail in Here Comes Peter Cottontail.
Risen
This 2016 film turns Easter into a gritty, Game of Thrones-style period piece, with Joseph Fiennes starring as a Roman Centurion, Clavius, on the hunt for Jesus' body after it mysteriously disappears following his crucifixion. Cliff Curtis stars as the groovy Christ himself, in whom Clavius finds salvation. With incredible production value, gore galore, and Britain's finest actors, it's the Easter story by way of Gladiator.
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Yogi The Easter Bear
Everyone's favorite bear is up to his typical hijinks again. The whole family will enjoy this flick, in which Yogi sets out to save the Easter bunny from a mastermind villain who's planned to ruin the holiday for all.
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The Last Temptation of Christ
If you really want to contemplate the existential nature of Jesus Christ and his sacrifices, check out Martin Scorsese's wild 1988 film starring Willem Dafoe as God's son, a simple man who makes the difficult decision to accept his calling in life. The film is a colorful, hallucinatory, uncensored depiction of that period as Scorsese imagines it.
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Jesus Christ Superstar
Maybe you prefer your Easter story with more musical numbers. The 1973 adaptation of the Broadway hit was directed by Norman Jewison and features a hunky Ted Neeley as Christ. Those tunes will be stuck in your head long after the Easter candy finally disappears.
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It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
There's a Peanuts cartoon for every holiday, it seems, and something about spending a festive event with Charlie and his pals feels wildly comforting. This 1974 special features the "Easter Beagle" instead of the Great Pumpkin, who takes his form in the clever dog Snoopy.
Rise of the Guardians
Another family friendly animated adventure, Rise of the Guardians rounds up all the fantastical fairy tale childhood heroes—Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost, the Sandman, and of course, the Easter Bunny—to fight the evil forces that threaten to engulf the world in darkness. Hugh Jackman voices Bunnymund, an Easter-obsessed Australian rabbit.
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The Ten Commandments
This classic Biblical epic dramatizes the pre-Easter world of the Old Testament and the life of Moses—before Jesus came around. Charlton Heston stars as Moses, bringing the Ten Commandments down from the mountain, while Yul Brynner plays his antagonist, Egyptian Prince Rameses.
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Chocolat
The tension in this charming romance comes when an enigmatic nomad and her daughter set up a chocolate shop in a small French village—just in time to tempt all of the denizens during Lent.
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Annie Hall
While not an obvious choice, we're going to count this classic as an Easter movie. There is indeed the famed Easter Dinner scene, in which Alvy tries to blend in with the Hall family, mostly unsuccessfully.
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Zootopia
While this adorable Disney movie isn't about Easter, it is about a very smart bunny. How can you even think about celebrating Easter without a good rabbit-related story? Zootopia is the perfect movie to watch that both kids and adults alike will enjoy.
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Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
There aren't any religious themes here, but there's an abundance of the other Easter staple: candy. Cozy up on the couch with your Easter basket, dig into that chocolate bunny, and enjoy the weird, wonderful world of Wonka.
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Life of Brian
In the mood for a funny Easter film? Look no further than this Monty Python classic. The movie follows a Jewish man named Brian Cohen who keeps getting mistaken for Jesus. Naturally, hilarious antics ensue.
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Easter Parade
A classic MGM musical from the Golden Age of Hollywood starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire, Easter Parade is the perfect nostalgic escapism for Easter Sunday. The film takes place around the holiday, when a Broadway star and a chorus girl fall in love, and culminates with a proposal that happens during the Easter Parade, naturally.
More: The Best Classic Movies Ever Made
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